IMO, both Node and Vault should sound better than a general purpose laptop. Even with a software like Audirvana, mass produced 'stock' laptop remains inherently noisy. The noise generated from laptop circuitry and on ethernet line greatly impacts the sound quality of any streaming setup. Whether you can discern the audible differences between a Node/Vault vs laptop is largely depends on rest of the components in your system.
Before you go down chasing audio nirvana with a four figure streamer or DAC, optimize your current streaming setup with noise filters if you haven't already done so!